Garment pressing machine



July 7, 1953 R. M. scHULTz 4 v 2,644,254

GARMENT PRESSING MACHINE vI VEN TOR.

July 7 1953 R. M. scHULTz 2,644,254

GARMENT PRESSING` MACHINE July 7, 1953 R. M. scHULTz 2,644,254

GARMENT PREssING MACHINE v Filed Feb. 21, 1949 w s sheefS-sheet 4 4 Y .VENT 94 July 7, 1953 RgM. scHUL-rz l 2,644,254

. GARMENT PREssING MACHINE Fledeb. 2l, 1949 l v 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 l 54 f v INVENTOR.

- f 21 @2M @f "33 @@5755 July 7, 1953 R. M. sc`HuL'rz 2,644,254

GARMENT PRESSING MACHINE I Filed Feb. 21, 1949 s sheets-sheet e /77 /M /75 /z l/ IN VEN TOR.

July 7, 1953 R. M. vscHuL'rz 2,644,254

` GARMENT PRESSING MACHNE Filed Feb. 21. 1949 8 sheets-sheet '7 I July 7, 1953 R. M. scHULTz 2,644,254

l GARMENT PRESSING MACHINE` Filed Feb. 2l, 1949 8 Shees-Sheet 8 Patented July 7, 1953 GARMENT PnEssING MACHINE Roy M. Schultz, Chicago, Ill., assignor to David A. Freeman, Chicago, Ill.

Application February 21, 1949, Serial No. 77,566

This invention relates to garment-pressing machines and, more particularly, to improvements in a power-operated machine adapted primarily for commercial use.

Because of the undesirable working conditions which are usually associated with this type of Work, it is imperative that a machine be employed which will minimize the fatigue and expedite the Work for the operator. To fulfill these requirements, various types of power-operated pressers have heretofore been proposed. However, while these machines reduced the fatigue of the operator and increased the work output, it was also found that there resulted a noticeable decrease in the quality of the finished work. The

principal cause for this decrease in quality was that the closing pressure of the pressing elements was non-adjustable and, regardless of the texture and quality of the fabric, all garments were pressed alike causing the finished appearance of certain type of garments to be impaired.

When pressing a garment, it is necessary to steam it so as to soften the fabric bers prior 'to the closing or" the head on the buck. Also subsequent to the opening of the pressing elements, it is desirable to vacuum or partially dry the garment. Heretofore, this operation was performed by the operator manipulating various hand and root levers, and frequently resulted in a waste of steam because the pressing elements were v widely spaced apart and the steam was not confined to a limited space above the garment after having passed therethrough but was allowed to escape immediately into the atmosphere, and thereby not as readily steam the exposed surface of the garment, Also when drying the garment, the pressing elements were generally widely separated so that the heat from the head was not beneficial in preheating the dry air drawn through the garment and thereby 'increase its moisture-absorbing quality. As a result, to effectively steam and dry the garment, the pressing operation was delayed as Well as the cost of operation increased.

Thus it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a power-actuated pressing machine having means whereby the operator may readily vary, by his finger tips, the closing pressureof the pressing elements'to any amount desired within the limits of the machine. v

t is a further object of this invention to provide a power-actuated pressing machine whereby the garment to be pressed may, if desired, be automatically steamed prior to the closing of the pressing elements when the elements are spaced 25 Claims. (Cl. 38-15) Yengagement with the stationary element.

relatively close to one another and may be automatically vacuumed subsequent to the pressing of said garment when said pressing elements are likewise spaced relatively close to one another.

It is a further object of this invention to reduce the amount of steam required to soften the garment prior to its being pressed and reduce the amount of time required to dry the garment subsequent to its being pressed.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide attachments adapted to be mounted on any conventional type pressing machine which wil enable said machine to be power-operated and enable the operator to readily vary the closing pressure of the pressing elements, and automatically steam the garment prior to the pressing thereof and automatically vacuum the garment subsequent to thev pressing thereof.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a pressing machine which will eX- peditiously and efficiently perform the pressing operation, without impairing the quality of the Work, aswell as reduce the fatigue of the operator.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a pressing machine is provided having a pair of cooperating pressing elements mounted on a suitable frame whereby one element is adapted to be moved manually to a preliminary closed position, which is a predetermined distance from said other element, and temporarily held thereat. While the pressing elements are held in the preliminary closed position, the garment is automatically steamed. Upon simultaneous manipulation of control and safety levers mounted on the movable pressing element, the movable element is power-actuated into pressing The pressure of the closing engagement is varied by the operator through the control lever.- Subsequent to the pressing engagement, the control and safety levers are released andthe elementsk assume a preliminary open position and are temporarily held thereat. While the pressing elements are so positioned, the garment is automatically vacuumed or dried by dry air being drawn through the pressed garment. Upon pushing the movable pressing elementby the operator or by manipulation of a foot-operated release lever, the movable pressing element may be raised to a fully-opened position to allow the finished garment to be removed from the machine.

3 For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should now be had to the drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a side-elevational view of the pressing machine with the movable pressing element in the fully-opened position.

Fig. 2 is a side-elevational view of the pressing machine with the movable element in the preliminary-closed (or preliminary-opened) position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the pressing machine shown in Fig. 2 with a portion of the Y piece or arm for the movable pressing element removed to show the arrangement of the variousinter-related parts. Y

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, side-elevationalY view of the valve structure and showing, partly in section, the interlock, power intake, pressure regulating, and exhaust valves which comprise said structure and are actuated by the. operator, through the control lever, for moving one of the pressing elements into and out of pressing engagement with the other pressing element.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, side-elevational View of the rockably-mounted cylinder assembly, shown partly in section, and exposing the piston thereof which, upon upward movement, causes the pressing elements to be actuated into pressing engagement.

Fig. 6 is a perspective, partly exploded, View of the latch cam mounted on the exposed or free end of the piston shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the cylinder assembly shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, front view of the automatic steam and vacuum controls taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the steam trip mechanism, taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 8, shown when the pressing elements are in the preliminary-closed position. The changed positions of the link pin are shown in dotted lines when the pressing elements are fully opened and closed.

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary view, taken along line |0| of Fig. 8, of the vacuum trip mechanism shown while the pressing elements are fully closed. The positions of the link pin when the pressing elements are preliminary-opened and fully-opened are shown in dotted lines.

Fig. l1 is a fragmentary, side-elevational view of the automatic steaming controls.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the control and safetyV levers shown partly in section.

Fig. 13 is a sectional, side-elevational View of the control and safety levers taken along line |2|2 of Fig. 12, inV their normal positions; the control lever being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 14 is like Fig. 13 showing the safety lever depressed and the control lever ready to be actuated by the operator to close the pressing elements.

Fig. 15 is like Fig. 13 showing the safety lever releasedand the control lever in the depressed position prior to the opening of the pressing elements.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary, side-elevational view, partly in section, of a modied form of power means for actuating the pressing elements, showing an electric motor and cam arrangement which replaces the valve structure and the rockably mounted cylinder assembly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, respectively.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary, sectional View of the 4 electric motor and cam arrangement taken along lines of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a circuit diagram for the electricallyoperated power means shown in Fig. 16.

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, to Figs. 1 and 2, a garment-pressing machine is shown comprising the usual frame 20 upon which is secured a buck or stationary pressing element 2|. Cooperating with buck 2| is a head or movable pressing element 22 secured to a Y piece or arm 23 which, in turn, is pivotally connected. to the frame 2|] at point 24. Arm 23, in this instance, is actuated by means of a pneumatical'ly-operated mechanism to cause the head 22 to move into pressing engagement with the buck 2|. Y

The pneumatically-operated mechanism comprisesv a substantially U-shaped valve structure 25, shown in Fig. 4, and a rockably mounted cylinder assembly 26 shown in Fig. 5, The valve structure 25 is connected to a source of pneumatic power (not shown) at point 26. Interlock valve 27 mounted on the structure acts as a cut-off valve for the mechanism and, when it is closed, the entire pneumatically-operated mechanism is inoperative. v Interlock valve 27, intakel valve 28, and exhaust valve 36' which make up a substantial p-art ofl the valve structure, are all of like construction comprising a housing 3|, a hinged lever 32 mounted on said housing, and a valve stem 33 having a mushroom or enlarged head 33', adapted to seat in a suitable opening 34 by means of a coil spring 35, as seen in Fig. 4. Upon a force being applied to the hinged lever 32, the enlarged head of the valve stem 33 is unseated.

The pressure regulating valve St which is mounted on the base of the U-shaped structure comprises a housing 3l, a plunger pin 38 slidably mounted Within said housing and having the inner end thereof engaging a plate 4e movable within a suitable opening 4| in said housing. Plate 45 is held in place against pin 36 by means of a coil spring 42 which rests on a second plate 43. Plate 43 is secured to one side of a diaphragm 44 which extends transversely across said opening, that is, perpendicular with respect to plunger pin 32. To the underside of diaphragm 44 is secured the valve stem 45 which has an enlarged head 46 adapted to seat in a suitable opening 47. The valve head 46 is normally held, in a closed position, by spring 48. A buffer spring 49 encloses the coil spring 42 which separates plates and 43.

At the` base of the valve housing 3'! is provided three ports 5S, 5|, and 52. Port 5i) is connected by pipe section 53 to the outlet side of intake Yvalve 28, which is positioned intermediate the interlock Valve and regulating valve. Ports 5| and 52 are positioned on the outlet side of valve stem 45. Port 5| is connected to the rockably mounted cylinder assembly 26 and port 52 to the exhaust valve 3E), by means of pipe or hose sections 54 and 55, respectively. Pipe or hose section 54 is adapted to flex slightly in order to accommodate the rocking motion of cylinder assembly 26. The amount of pneumatic pressure ltransmitted to cylinder assembly 26 is proportional to the amount of downward force applied to the coil spring 42 and diaphragm 44 by manipulation of control lever 14 by the operator, through a series of levers and Ilinkages to be hereinafter described.

Interlock valve 27, as seen in Fig. 4, is actuated by means of a bell crank lever` 56 which is pivotally connected to the frame at point 51. A roller 58 mounted on the shorter arm 6|) of lever 56 engages the hinged lever 32 of valve 21 and causes the valve to be opened upon a clockwise motion of bell crank lever 56. The longer arm 6| of lever 56 is actuated by means of a toggle joint lever arrangement 62. The lever arrangement comprises a short link 63, which is pivotally connected to the frame at its lower end at point 64 (see Figs. 1 and 2), and is connected at the other end to one end of the longer link 65 by pin'65.

Pin 66 which connects link 63 and link 65 engages the lower end of arm Si of bell crank lever 56. The other end of the longer link 65 is pivotally connected to power pedal 6l (see Fig. 1 or 2), at point 68 which is offset with respect to axis of rotation 1|) of said pedal so that, upon raising pedal El to the position shown in Fig. 2, the bell crank lever 56 is caused to rotate clockwise by pin 66 engaging arm 6| (see Fig. 2).

When power pedal-l is in the position shown in Fig. l, that is, substantially horizontal, the pneumatically-operated mechanism is rendered inoperative and the pressing elements 2| and 22 must be entirely operated manually Vby the operator. This enables the machine to be operatedin case of a breakdown of the power mechanism. Power pedal @l is pivotally connected at point 'lf3 to the main foot lever ll| which extends reaiam wardly along the base 'i2 of the frame and is pivotally connected thereto at point i3, which is at the rear of the machine (see Figs. l and 2).

Intake valve 28, pressure regulating valve 36, and exhaust valve 3D are all actuated by means of a linger control lever l, pivotally mounted on the head or movable pressing element 22. The movement of the control lever 72 andthe Y-piece 23, to which the head 22 is connected, is transmitted to the valves by means of a linkage arrangement to be hereinafter described.

The control lever iii is connected to a telescoping rod l5 which extends rearwardly from the head 22 and is pivotally connected to one leg i6 of a bell crank lever "il which is rotatably mounted on the frame at point '13. To the other leg 82 of the bell crank lever 77 is pivotally connected a control pull rod 3|, which extends downwardly and is pivotally connected at 22 to one endof a rockably mounted lever 83. Lever 23 is rockably mountedon the frame 20 at point lili. Angularly extending from lever 83 are two arms S5 and 86; the former actuating intake valve 28 and the latter actuating exhaust valve 32. Mounted on lever 83 and at a point on the opposite side of fulcrum point 8G from the pivotal connection of pull rod 8i is a stud ill on which is mounted roller 8l. The roller B7 is adapted to contact plunger pin 36 of pressure valve 36. From stud 8l extends arm 85 which is adapted to be adjusted to various angular positions with respect to lever 83 by means of lock bolt'S extending therethrough into a slot 83 formed in lever On the outer end of arm 85 is mounted a roller QQ which engages the hinged lever oi 'valve 28. Arm S6 is secured to lever 83 at fulcrum point it and is held in an angular position with respect to said lever by means of lock bolt 9|. A slot S2 is likewise formed in lever 2 2 for lock bolt 2| 'to allow for slight adjustment of arm 86. A roller 22 is mounted on the'outer end of arm 26 which engages the hinged lever of exhaust valve 32.

Upon depressingcontrol lever i4, the pull rod 6| is caused to move upwardly imparting a ,counter-clockwise motion to lei/verst., thereby 6 causing valves 28 and 36 to be opened and valve 30 to remain closed. -Upon release of the control lever lli, the head 22 assumes the position shown in Fig. 2 and the lever 83 moves clockwise closing f valves 28 and 36 and opening valve 3|) which allows the air in the rockably-mounted cylinder 22 to be released.

The rockably -mounted cylinder assemblyl shown in Fig. 5 is operatively connected to port 5l of valve structure 25 by means of a flexible connecting tube or pipe section 54 secured -to the |62 which isy hingedly connected to said'flange pieces by means of a pin It-extending throughy Ysuitable openings |22 provided inthe flanges |66' rand E61 and plate |22.

pieces are like slots |65 and |26. Each slot is provided with a ledge portion is?V having a lip MESI-formed at the edge thereof. Latch plate |22 has a slot ||ll of substantially similar `design formed therein. The ledge portion l, however, is not provided withva lip'as in slots |25 and |26.

Mounted on and extending upwardly from the cylinderhousing 913 and substantially parallel to the piston rod 26 is a post ||2, to the upper end oi which is threaded a latch-adjusting nut ||3.

The nut abuts against onecorner ||4 of' the plate |22 and varies the relative position thereof with respect to the flange pieces '|00 and ||l|. The eiiect of changing the relative position of plate 162. is to vary the holding effect of the lip |28, to be hereinafter discussed.

Extending through'slots` |05, |06, and IIIJ is a pin H6 which is secured at eitherl end to arms H6 which, in turn, are rigidly secured to push link Hi8 at point |26. Push link`||3 is pivotally secured at one end to the back lever |2| at point 22 and, at the other end, to the front toggle member 523'. Back lever |2| is pivotally connected to the base i2 of the frame 20 at point 'i3 and, at the other end, to back lever link |24 at point l25. Back lever link y|24 lis joined at its other end |26 to Y arm 23. Back lever |2| and back lever link |22 cooperate with each other in a toggle joint action, so that `when the lever |2| and lever link 92d are substantially inia straight line, the pressing elements 2| and 22 are closed. vPush link llt is adapted to swing about point E22 and push'against Va bumper cup |2'i mounted on back lever |2|. A Vcooperating bumper cap 522 is provided on push link H2 which may be adjusted to more readily engage bumper cup i2?. Fronttoggle member |23 is rockably connected to the frame atv point |29. The other end it@ of member |23 is adapted to actuatethe automatic steam and vacuum mechanism, which will be' described Ymore fully later. When pin l l5 is positioned on the ledge 61, as shown in Fig. 5, the pressing elements 2| and 22 are held in the preliminary closed or latched position, approximately 'Ul/4'? from each other, `as shown in Fig. 2, and the head 22 cannot be moved by pneumatic pressure into pressing engagement Formed in the nange 7 der housing and the latch cam 98 and pin ||5 will assume the position A, shown in Fig. 5. The pin I is caused to remain on ledge B1 by the lip I G3 and a spring |3I which tends to pull the cylinder assembly 25 in a clockwise motion. Upon release of the control lever 1d, the head 22 will return to a preliminary open or latched position, which is the same as the preliminary-closed position shown in Fig. 2, by means of the counterbalance spring |32 secured to Y arm 23. To release the head 22 from this latched preliminary open position to the fully-opened position, shown in Fig. 1, the cylinder assembly 25 is caused to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction by means of an L-shaped lever |33 which is pivotally connected to the frame at point |3li. The short arm |35 of lever |33 is slightly curved and engages a roller |36 which is mounted on the cylinder housing 92 at a point below the axis of rotation S1 of said housing. The other, or longer, arm |3 of lever Y|33 terminates in a toggle joint arrangement |33 with foot release pedal Mil which is rockably mounted on the base i2 of frame 2G at point Uil. By depressing pedal |45,

`the L-shaped lever |33 is caused to rotate clock# wise about point |35 and forces stud .|35 to move counter-clockwise about point 91. Upon counterclockwise movement of. the cylinder assembly 25, the pin ||5 is unseated from ledge |21 and the head may be moved with the aid of balance spring |32 to the fully-opened position. The relative position of the cylinder assembly with respect to the frame when the head 22 is fullyopened is shown in position B of Fig. 5.

By holding the release'pedal |40 down, the head may be moved from the closed position to the fully-opened position vwithout becoming latched. Also by turning the latch adjusting nut ||3 on post H2, the lip |88 of ledge |01 may be reduced toA such an' extent that the pin I |5 will not tend to remain on ledge |61 but will slip ofi' whereby the head may be raised manually from its latched position without depressing the foot release pedal |40.

rIhe movement of the control lever 1d is regulated by a safety lever |42 (see Figs. 12 through Lever I cl2 is fastened at one end to shaft |43 and is adapted to rotate about the axis thereof. A coil spring |44 which encompasses the shaft |63 adjacent lever |42 causes saidlever to be normally held in its up position, as seen in Figs. 13 and l5. The ends of shaft |113 are journaled in the side members of handle |ll5 which side members are secured to Y arm 23. Control lever 1li is rotatably mounted on shaft |53 and is spaced from safety lever |42 a distance such that the operator cannot manipulate both levers with one hand. This arrangement of the levers prevents any possibility of an accident occurring to the hands of the operator by the pressing elements. Control lever 14 rotates independently of shaft |43. Keyed to shaft |43 and enclosed within a housing |46 is a cam |41. Housing |45, as seen in Fig. 12, is disposed inter- Amechate the two levers and adjacent to lever 14. Pivotally mounted at point |48 within housing as is a plate |55 which is actuated by cam |51; Plate |55 is provided with an. aperture |5| through which extends a pin |52 which is transversely mounted on the short arm |52 of. control lever 14. Rotatably mounted on plate |50 and disposed on either side of aperture |5I are latches '|53 and |55. Tongues |55 and |55 of latches |53 'and |54, respectively, project into aperture |5| and allow the pin |52 to travel in onlyY one direction about the-periphery of said aperture. Latch S |53, which is disposed on the underside of the aperture, can only move in acounter-clockwise direction by reason of stop V|51 mounted on plate |50, engaging shoulder |58 of said latch. Shoulder |58 is normally held against stop |51 by spring |50. Latch |55, which is disposed on the upper side of aperture |5|, likewise can be moved in only a counter-clockwise direction by reason of stop |6| mounted on plate |50 engaging shoulder |52 of said latch. A spring |53 holds shoulder |52 inengagement with stop |6|`. Thus it will be seen that the pin |52 must make a complete cycle about the periphery of aperture |5| before returning to its starting position. Spring i G4 which is secured at one end |65 to the housing and, at the outer end |66, to the plate 5B assures positive engagement of the cam |41 and plate at all times.

When the operator desires to actuate the head 22 into pressing engagement with the buck 2|, the safety lever |52 is depressed causing cam |41 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 14, which lifts plate |50 so that pin |52 rests on the bottom edge of aperture |5'|. The control lever id, which functions like a bell crank lever, can now be depressed causing pin |52 to pass over latch |53. rEhe head and buck are then in a closed position. To open the pressing elements, the safety levermust be released and allowed toassume its normal up position which causes the plateY |50 to drop and rest on thev at'side |51 of cam |131. The pin |52 now travels along the upper `edge of aperture I5 upon release of the control lever 14 and passes over latch |52.

lt is apparent that any act on the part of the operator to `circumvent the use of the safety lever simultaneously with the control lever to close the pressing element will result in rendering the pressing elements inoperative. For example, tying the safety lever in its depressed position locks the pressing elements in a closed position. On the other hand, if the safety lever is held continually in its up position, the pressing elements V are prevented from closing.

When the buck 2 and head 22 are in the' preliminary-closed position, as seen in Fig. 2, the garment which is placed on the buck is automatically steamed in order to soften the fabric bers so that the garment may be eifectively pressed. In this instance, the steam which permeates the garment is supplied by the buck Vthrough spray nozzle |68 which is disposed beneath the exposed surface of said buck and connected to a steam Valve, the latter, in turn, being mounted within a housing unit |58', shown in dotted lines in Figs.

1-3. A vacuum Valve, to be hereinafter discussed, is likewise mounted within unit i575. However, the steam may be supplied, if desired, from the head 22. Subsequent to the closing of the head on the buck and upon release of the safety and control levers |52 and 1d, respectively, the head will normally assume a preliminary open position similar to that for the preliminary closed position, and the pressed garment will be automatically vacuumed or dried. This operation is performed by dry air being drawn through the garment and into nozzle |58 and out lthrough the vacuum Valve of unit 68. The steam valve and vacuum valve included within unit, |58', and* nozzle |58 are of the conventional type well-known by those skilled in the art and, therefore, any further 'comment on their construction is considered unnecessary.

The automatic steaming and vacuuming are accomplishedby means of a lever arrangement to be hereinafter described. Mounted on the front side of the frame beneath the pressing elements are a pair of control knobs| and |1I, the former adapted to regulate the amount of steam supplied, and the latter adapted to control the suction pressure. Knob |18 is mounted on one end of a differential bolt |12 which, 1in turn, is threaded through both legs |733 and |14 which are arranged to iorm adjustable bell-crank lever |15. Lever |l5 is secured at |18 to a valve-operating shaft |11 the latter being mounted transversely on unit |68 and is adapted to rotate about the axis thereof. By rotation of the knob |18, the relative angular position of legs |13 and |14, the latter being nxed to the shaft |'|1, may be varied as seen in Fig. 11. To the free end of leg |13, which extends downwardly from shaft |11, is mounted a spring-actuated trip lever |18 which is adapted to rotate only in a counterclockwise direction about pivot point |86. A stop |8| mounted on the leg prevents the triplever |18 from rotating in the opposite direction. The trip lever V58 is actuated by end |38 of front toggle member |23 as it pivots about point |29.

Secured. to operating shaft |11 and held in a fixed angular position relative thereto is an arm |82. On the outer or free end of arm |82 is plvotally mounted at |83 one end of the buck steamoperating rod |88; the other end of the rod is pivotally mounted at |85 on a foot-operated buck spray pedal |86. Pedal |86 is rockably-mounted 'on the base 12 of frame at IM and aotuates the steam valve of unit |88 and may be independently operated at any time by the operator 1fy desired.

The controls for the automatic-vacuuming operation are of similar construction as those described for the automatic-steaming. Knob |14 is secured to one end-of differential bolt |81 which is threaded through legs |88 and |853 and arrangedfto form an adjustable bell-crank lever. Both legs |88 and |98 are rotatably mountedon operating shaft |11 and their angular position relative to one another may be varied by rotating bolt |51. Leg |83 which extends downwardly from shaft |11 is provided at its lower end with a vacuum trip lever I Si. The lever. lai, which is similar to lever |18, is spring-actuated and adapted to rotate in only a clockwise direction. Stop |92, mounted on the leg adjacent the lever ISI, prevents movement thereof in a counterclockwise direction; the other leg 98 of the bellcrank arrangement cooperates in a toggle joint action with a rockably-mounted lever |93, which is pivotally mounted to the frame at |84. The opposite end |95 of lever |28 is pivotally connected to the vacuum-operating rod |86, which is pivotally connected, at its lower end, to a footoperated vacuum pedal |91. Pedal |91 is'rockably mounted on the base 12 of the frame and actuates the vacuum valve of unit |68. Pedal |91 may likewise be independently operated by the operator at any time.

Vacuum trip lever |9| is likewise actuated by the end |38 of front toggle member |23.

End |38 of member |23 is linked to front toggley trip lever is actuated. Upon lmanually* moving the head to the preliminary-closed position, as

.shown in Fig. 2, the link pin 200 contacts trip levers |18 and 9|, as shown in position B in Figs. 9 and 10. The vacuum trip lever |9I, which is adapted to rotate in only a clockwise direction, is depressed and the leg |88 is undisturbed and remains in its normal position. The steamtrip lever |18, on the other hand, is prevented from rotating in a clockwise direction by stop |8| and, therefore, the lesr |13 is deected to thev left, or clockwise about shaft |11, causing said shaft |11 and arm |82 to turnl in a likedirection. The buck steam-operating rod |84 is, in turn, depressed and the steam valve of unit |68. actuated. When the head 22 is brought into pressing engagement with the buck 2|, the steam is shut ori. This occurs because the end I 33 oftoggle j member |23 assumes position C (see Figs. 9 and l0), and the leg |13 is i'ree to resume its norm-al position by the action of spring2|i2 (see Figs. l and 2), on buck spray pedal |88 which in turn closes the steam valve of unit |68. Upon release of the control and safety levers 14 and M2, respectively, the head is moved to the preliminaryopened position, by the action of balance spring |32. The link pin 288 once again engages the trip levers and the reverse action occurs; trip lever |18 is depressed and leg |13 remains undisturbed, while trip lever |9I, which is prevented from .moving in a counter-clockwise direction by stop |92, causes leg |88 to be Vdeflected to the left, or

clockwise about shaft |11. The other leg |88, which is connected to leg |88 by di'lerential bolt |81, likewise rotates in a clockwise direction and by a toggle joint action lever |83 is rotated counter-clockwise about pivot point |91| and vacuumoperating rod |86 is moved upwardly causing the vacuum valve of unit I l'to be opened.

The rims 283 and 201| of control knobs |18 and I'il, respectively, are inscribed with suitable markings 285 and 286. The figures 285 on knob |18 indicate when very high, medium and relatively low steam pressure is being applied to the garment. This is indicated when the markings 285 are opposite a pointer 20| which isk secured to the frame just above the knob. A pointer is also provided forknob On knob |1|, the amount or" vacuum being created on the garment is indicated by markings 28S. On both knobs there is marked an ori position which results in.

legs I 13 and |88 being spaced relatively rar apart :from legs |82 and |88, respectively, so that the connecting link pin 28|! on front toggle member |23 will not contact-trip levers `|13 and |9| upon movement of said member and, therefore, neither the automatic steaming nor vacuuming will occur.

The buck steam pedal |86, thev vacuum pedal |91, and the main foot lever 1|, with the power pedal 61 in its lowered position, enable the operator to perform the entire pressing operation manually if he so desires. The pressing operation, on the other hand, may also besemi-automatic, that is to say, the movement of the head into pressing engagement with the buck is Vmanual, yet the steaming and vacuumingduring the preliminary-closed and preliminary-opened. positions respectively are still automatic.

Mode of operation The operation of the machine shown in Figs. 1 through 15, is as follows: (a) With the head 22 in its fully opened position (as shown in Fig. 1) the operator places the garment, to be pressed,

von buck 2|, places foot pedal 5'1 in its up position (as shown in Fig. 2 thereby causing pneu.- matic power to be supplied to the valve structure 25 (shown in Fig. 4) and adjusts the settings of control knobs |71) and |71 (see Fig. 8) to effect proper steaming and vacuuming of the garment fabric; (b) the operator then manually lowers the head 22 to the preliminary closed position (shown in Fig. 2) whereupon the steam trip mechanism (shown in Fig. 9) is automatically actuated causing the garment to be steamed and the fabric thereof softened, while the head is in this preliminary closed position; (c) the operator then places both hands on the hand controls '14 and |42 mounted on the top of head 22, one hand on each control; (d) control lever 142 is then rst depressed (as shown in Fig. 14), then lever 74 is depressed, while leverr|42 remains depressed, whereupon the head 22 is caused to be moved into pressing contact with the buck 2|, only a small amount of pressure is required to be exerted on lever 'I to effect a large amount of pressure exerted by the head on the buck; (e) as the head is moved into pressing relation the steaming of the garment is stopped; (f) to open the head from the buck, the operator releases both control levers whereupon the head resumes the preliminary closed (or open) position (as shown in Fig. 2); (g) upon the head resuming the preliminary closed position, the trip mechanism (sh-own in Fig. 10) is automatically actuated causing the garment to be vacuumed or dried while the head is in said preliminary closed position; and (h) the operator, when the garment is partially dried, then causes the head to resume its fully opened position by depressing foot pedal |1313, or exerting an upward manual force on handle 125, which will cause pin to become unseated from notch 10'1 (see position B in dotted lines in Fig. 5); when the head is moved to its fully opened position, the vacumming of the garment ceases.

It is assumed in following the above indicated inode of operation, that the latch-adjusting nut 1|3 (see Fig. 5) has been pre-set so that the pin |15 will readily seat in notch 10'1 formed in ange pieces |98 and l.

It will be obvious that certain modifications of the specific embodiment shown may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. For example, as shown in Figs. 16, 17 and 18, an electrically-operated mechanism may replace the valve structure 25 and the rockably mounted cylinder assembly 26 for actuating the pressing elements 2| and 22 into and out of pressing engagement. The mechanism comprises a reversible capacitor-type motor 208 mounted on a suitable bracket 211) which, in turn, is secured to back lever |21. The motor shaft 21| extends forwardlyv from the motor 298 and has mounted a braking wheel 212 and a worm wheel 213, the former being positioned at the free end of said shaft. Worm wheel 213 meshes with a cooperating worm gear 212 which is secured to and adapted to rotate with shaft 215. The shaft 215 is rotatably mounted on a pair of bracket plates 216 which are bolted to back lever 12|. Intermediate bracket plates 216 and secured to shaft 2|5 is a cam disc 21'1 and cam spring member 21'1 which cooperate with a roller 218 mounted on push link 18.

Mounted on the opposite end of shaft 215 from the worm gear 214 and enclosed within a housing 220 are a rack gear 22|, limit switch 222,

and an operating arm 223. Rack gear 22| and limit switch 222 are bolted together and are adapted to rotate independently of shaft 215 by movement of a rack 22d across said rack gear. The rack 224 is slidably secured to the adjacent bracket plate 216 and is actuated by a flexible pull cable 225. The cable 225 is attached at its other end, not shown, to the control lever "12. Associated with braking wheel 212, which is secured to the end of the motor shaft 21|, is a magnetic-type brake 226 mounted on bracket plate 216 (see Fig. 16). The brake shoe 221 is normally held in its braking position.

As shown in the circuit diagram, Fig. 18, there is provided a main throw switch 228 which is of a conventional type, not shown in Figs. 16 and 17. A latch switch 232 shown adjacent to throw switch 228 in Fig. 18 is secured to the outside face of one of the bracket plates and is not actuated until the movable pressing element 22 is in the preliminary-closed position at which time the arm 23| of the switch 252 engages the adjacent frame 2t (see Fig. 17) and closes switch 22B. Upon closing of Vlatch switch 232, the mechanism is ready to be operated. First, the rack 2211 is drawn across rack gear 22| by the operator, depressing the control lever 12 causing the limit switch 222 to rotate and the blade 232 thereof to make contact with point 233, thereby closing the circuit to the relay 234. The motor 228 and brake 226 are then actuated causing motor shaft 21| to rotate which, in turn, rotates shaft 2|5, through the worm wheel 213 and gear 2|4, and causes operating arm 223 to follow the limit switch 222. When the pressure yof the head on the buck is deemed sufcient by the operator, the control lever '14 is not further depressed and limit switch-222 stops rotating while the motor continues to operate, rotating the operating arm 223 until the stud 235, mounted on the lower end of said arm, strikes the blade 2,52 and breaks the circuit which, in turn, applies the blade to stop the motor. Upon release of control lever 14, the rack 22d is pulled back to its starting position -by springs 23S which, in turn, rotates the limit switch 222 in the opposite direction, causing blade 232 to make contact with point 23? of the relay 234 and thus reverses the rotation of the motor. The operating arm 223 will then lead the limit switch slightly until the switch reaches its starting position, as shown in Fig. 16, and strikes an adjustable stop 238, secured to bracket plate 21S. Upon striking stop 238, blade 232 breaks contact with point 231 and opens motor and brake circuits.

Upon movement of the head 22 to the preliminary-closed position (see Fig. 2), the roller 213 mounted on the underside of push link |18 travels up the side of a recess 22B formed in the cam 211, and moves slightly beyond or away from the outer periphery of the cam whereupon the cam spring member 21'1 snaps in a clockwise direction into operating position, so as to provide a ledge upon which the roller may rest when the head is released by the operator. The spring member 2171 prevents the roller 213 from dropping back into the recess 22e. As the operator depresses the control lever l2, the shaft 2 I5 moves in a clockwise direction and the roller rolls over the distorted periphery of the cam 21'1, causing the back lever |21 to be pushed to an upright position when the roller approaches the high point on the cam periphery.

Upon release of the control lever 111, the cam 2|'1 is rotated, in the opposite direction, and the `roller Zll once again comes to vrest onthe edge of the cam spring member 2M, at which point the head is in a preliminary open position. Upon the operator pushing the head upwardly, the component of the force exerted on the spring member by the roller causes the spring member to be deected in a counter-clockwise direction and the r-oller allowed to drop back into the recess Elin. When the roller is at the bottom of the recess, the head 22 is in its fully-opened position.

The magnetic brake 226, as seen in circuit dia gram Fig. 18, is energized when the motor starts,

causing the brake shoe 22? to be lifted from Wheel 212 and allows the shaft 2li to rotate freely.

Thus, it will be seen that a power-actuated garment pressing machine has been provided which enables the operator, by his linger tips, to readily vary the closing pressure of the head on the buck within limits of the machine, depending upon the type and texture of the garment fabric whichis to be pressed. Also a foolproof safety device has been incorporated in the machine, which eliminates the operational hazard to the operator by requiring both hands of the operator to be removed from the pressing surfaces of the head and buck, in order to manipulate the control and safety levers to actuate the head into and out oi pressing engagement by pneumatic power. Furthermore, a machine has been provided which will automat ically steam and vacuum the garment during the pressing operation.

And, lastly, a machine has been provided which of the work and will reduce the fatigue oi the operator as well.

While several embodiments oi this invention are shown above, it will be understood, of course,

that the invention is not to be limited thereto,

to a temporary rest position adjacent to but not in contact with said stationary pressing element, power means mounted on said frame and operable for actuating said second pressing element into pressing engagement with said stationary pressing element from said rest position and returning said second pressing element to said rest position subsequent to said pressing engagement, manually operated control means mounted on 'one oi said pressing elements for operating said power means, automatic garment steaming means mounted on said frame and being operative when said second pressing element is in said rest position prior to said pressing engagement, automatic garment vacuuming means mounted on said frame and being operative when said second pressing element is in said rest position subsequent to said pressing engagement, and means mounted on said frame for releasing said second pressing element from said rest position to said normally open position; said automatic garment steaming means comprising a steam valve mounted on said frame .-valve mounted on said frame and a second adjustable bell crank lever pivotally mounted on said frame and having one leg thereof operatively connected to said vacuum valve and the other leg thereof provided with a trip lever, said second trip lever being actuated only upon movementV of said second pressing element from said pressing engagement to said rest position.

2, A garment pressing machine comprising a frame, a relatively stationary pressing element mounted on. said frame, a second pressing ele ment rockably mounted on said frame for initial movement from a normally fully open position to a ltemporary rest position adjacent to but not in contact With said stationary pressing element, power means mounted on said frame for actuating said second pressing element into pressing engagement with said stationary pressing ele ment from said rest position and return said second stationary element from said pressing engagement to said rest position, and control means mounted on one said pressing element for regulating said power means; said power means comprising a reversibleftype electric motor mounted on said frame, a cam rotatably mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said motor, motor direction regulating means mountH ed on said frame and cooperating with said con; trol means, and a follower and linkage arrange ment mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said second pressing element for eiecting movement of said second pressing e1ement by said cam.

3. A garment pressing machine comprising a frame, a pair of cooperating pressing elementsy one ci said elements on which a garment is laid being mounted in a relatively Xed position on said frame and the other element being rockably mounted on said frame for initial movement from when the latterfis in said rest position prior to pressingv engagement with said relatively iizfzed element, automatic garment vacuuming means mounted on said frame 'and being operatively engaged 'by said movable element when the latter is in Said returned rest position, and means 'mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said movable element for eiecting return thereof from said rest position to said fully opened position.

d. A garment pressing machine comprisinrrr a frame, a stationary buck mounted on said frame, a head rockably mounted on said frame for initial movement from av fully opened position to a temporary rest position adjacent to but not levers, an apertured plate rockably mounted with in said housing, a pin mounted on said control lever and having one end thereof disposed within said plate aperture, a cam operatively connected to said safety lever for rocking said plate upon depressing of said safety lever, and a Ipair of trip elements pivotally mounted on said plate and having a portion of said elements projecting into said aperture; said trip elements allowing said pin upon depressing of said control lever to move in only one direction about the perimeter of said aperture when said plate is rocked by said safety lever.

5. A garment pressing machine comprising a frame, a buck mounted in a relatively fixed position on said frame, a head rockably mounted on said frame for initial movement from a fully opened position to a temporary rest position adjacent to but not in contact with said buck, power means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said head for effecting movement thereof from said rest position into pressing engagement with said buck and return of said head to said rest position subsequent to said pressing engagement, v dual hand controls mounted on said head and operatively connected to said power means, said hand controls requiring simultaneous manipulation thereof to effect operation of said power means, and means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said head for effecting return thereof from said rest position to said fully opened position; said power means comprising a valve unit mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said hand controls, and a cylinder assembly rockably mounted on said frame and loperatively connected to said valve unit, said assembly provided with a reciprocating piston.

having one end thereof operatively connected to said head to effect movement thereof into and out of pressing engagement with said buck.

6. A garment pressing machine comprising a frame, a stationary buck mounted on said frame over which a garment is laid, a head cooperating with said buck mounted on said frame for initial movement from a normal fully opened position into pressing engagement with said buck, means mounted on said frame and cooperating with said head for holding said head in a temporary rest position adjacent to but not in contact with ysaid headA subsequent to said pressing engagefully open position to a Ltemporary predetermined rest position adjacent to but not in contact with said fixed element, means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said movable element for holding the latter in said rest position, power means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said movable element for effecting movement thereof from said temporary rest position into pressing engagement with said relatively fixed element and return of said movable element to said temporary rest position subsequent to said pressing engagement to said rest position, automatic garment steaming means mounted on said frame and operatively engaged by said movable element upon initial movement thereof, automatic garment vacuuming means mounted on said frame and operatively engaged by said movable element upon movement thereof from said pressing engagement to said temporary rest position, and means mounted on said frame for returning said movable element from said temporary rest position to said full open position.

8. A garment pressing machine comprising a frame, a stationary buck mounted on said frame, a head cooperating with said buck rockably mounted on said frame for initial movement from a fully open position to a temporary rest position adjacent to but not in contact with said buck, means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said head for holding the latter in said rest position, power means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said head for eifecting movement of said head from said rest position into pressing engagement with said buck and return of said head to said rest position subsequent to said pressing engagement, automatic garment steaming means mounted on said frame and operatively engaged by said head upon initial movement thereof to said rest position, said steaming means being operative only when said head is in said rest position prior to pressing engagement thereof with said buck, automatic garment vacuuming means mounted on said frame and operatively engaged by said head upon return movement thereof from said pressing engagement to said rest position, said vacuuming means being operative only when said head is in said rest position subsequent to pressing engagement with said buck, means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said head for effecting return thereof from said rest position to said fully open position, and adjustable means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said steaming and vacuuming means for varying the effective operation of either or both of said steaming and vacuuming means.

9. A garment pressing machine comprising a frame, a stationary pressing element mounted on said frame, a second pressing element mounted on said frame for initial movement l afi-14,26@

position of adjustment to effect operation of the latter, and a safety lever adjustably mounted on one of said pressing elements for movement from a normal position of adjustment and means operatively connected to both of said control and safety levers whereby said levers must be manipulated simultaneously to effect operation of said power means.

10. A garment pressing machine comprising a frame, a stationary buck mounted on said frame, a head cooperating with said buck rockably mounted on said frame for initial movement from a normal fully open position to a temporary predetermined rest position adjacent to but not in contact with said buck, means mounted on said frame .and operatively connected to said head for holding the latter in said temporary rest position, and power control means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said head for effecting movement thereof from said rest positioninto pressing engagement with said buck and return of said head to said fully openposition subsequent to. said pressing engagement.

11. A `garment pressing machine comprising a frame, a stationary buck mounted on said frame, a head cooperating with said buck rockably mounted on said frame for initial movement from a normal fully open position into pressing engagement with said buck, power control means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said head for varying the pressure exerted on said buck by said head and effecting movement of said head to a temporary rest position adjacent to but not in Contact with said buck subsequent to said pressing engagement, means mounted on said frame and operatively connected t said head for holding the latter in said rest position, and lmeansmounted on said frame and operatively connected to said head for effecting' return of the latter from said rest position to said fully open position.

12. A garment pressing machine comprising a frame, a stationary buck mounted on said frame, a head cooperating with said buck rockably mounted on said frame for initial movement from a normal fully open position to a temporary predetermined rest position adjacent to but not in contact with said buck, means mountedon said frame and operatively connected to said head for holding the latter in said rest position, power means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said head for effecting movement thereof from said rest position into pressing engagement with said buck and return of said head t said rest position subsequent to said pressing engagement, and means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said head for releasing said head from said rest position to said fully open position.

13. A garment pressing machine comprising a frame, a stationary buck mounted on said frame, a head rockably mounted on said frame for initial movement from a normal fully open position to a temporary rest position vadjacent to lbut not in contact with said buck, power means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said head for effecting movement thereof from said rest position into pressing engagement with said buck and return of said head to said rest position subsequent to said pressing engagement, a control member pivotally mounted on said head and a 18 an axis coincident to the pivotal axis of said con-v trol member, and means operatively connected to said control and safety members whereby said control member can be manipulated to effect op- .eration of said -power means upon. simultaneous manipulation of said safety member.

14. A garmentv pressing machine comprising a frame, a stationary buck mounted on said framel holding the latter in said rest position, automatic garment steaming means mounted on said frame and operatively engaged by said head while the `latter is in said rest position, power means mountedvon said frame and operatively connected tosaid head for actuating said head from said rest position intopressing engagement with said buck and effecting return of said head from said `pressing engagement to said normal fully open position. A

15. A garment pressing machine comprising a frame, a stationary buck mounted on said frame, a head cooperating with said buck mountedv on said frame for initial movement from Ial fully open position relative to said buckto a temporary predetermined rest position adjacent to but not in contact with said buck, means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to 'said head for holding the latter in said rest position, and power means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said head vfor effecting movement thereof from said rest position into pressing engagement with said buck.

16. A garment pressing machine comprising a frame, a stationary buck mounted on said frame over which a garment may be laid, a head Cooperating with said buck mounted on said frame for initial movement from a fully open position relative to said buck to a temporary predetermined rest position adjacent to but not in contact with said buck, means mounted on said frame andoperatively connected to said head for holding the latter in said rest position, automatic garment steaming meansmounted on said frame and being operative when said head is in said rest position, and power means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said head for effecting movement thereof from said rest position into pressing engagement with said buck.

17. A garment pressing machine comprising a frame, a stationary buck mounted on said frame, a head mounted on said frame for movement into and out vof pressing engagement with said buck, means mounted on said frame and opera-A tively connected to said head for holding the latter, prior to pressing engagement with said buck, in a temporary predetermined-rest position adjacent to but not in contact with said buck, means for thereafter moving said head into pressing engagement with said buck, and Icontrol means forsaid last means.

18. A garment pressing machine comprising a frame, a stationary buck mounted on said frame, a head mounted on said frame for movement into and out of pressing engagement with said buck, adjustable means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said head for holding the latter, when said means is in one position of adjustment, in a temporary predetermined rest position adjacent to but not in contact with said buck prior to saidhead moving into pressingr engagement with saidI buck, means for thereafter moving said head into pressing engagement with said buck, and controll means for Said last means.v

19. A garment pressing machine comprising a frame, a stationary buck mounted on said frame, a head mounted on said frame for movement into and out of pressing engagement with said buck, adjustable means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said head for holding the latter, when said means is in one position vof adjustment, in a temporaryA predetermined rest position adjacent to but not in contact with said buck subsequent to said head moving into pressing engagement with said buck, means for thereafter-moving said head into pressing engagement with said buck, and control means for said last means.

20. A garment pressing machine comprising a `frame, a stationary buck mounted on said frame, a head mounted on said frame for movement into and out of pressing engagement with said buck and to a position of rest but not in engagement with said stationary buck prior and subsequent to pressing engagement of said head and buck, control means for effecting the aforesaid movements of said head, automatic garment steaming means mounted on said frame, and means for operating said steaming means when said head is in said rest position prior to pressing engagement.

21. vA garment pressing machine comprising a frame, a stationary buck mounted on said frame, a head mounted on said frame for movement into and out of pressing engagement with said buck and to a lposition of rest lbut not in engagement With said stationary buck prior and subsequent to pressing engagement of said head and buck, control means for effecting the aforesaid movements of said head, automatic garment vacuumingV means mounted on said frame, vand means for operating said vacuuming means when said head is in said rest position subsequent to pressing engagement.

22. A garment pressing machine comprising a frame, a stationary buck mounted on said frame, a head mounted on said frame for movement into and out of pressing engagement with said buck and to a position of rest but not in engagement With said stationary buck prior and subsequent to' pressing engagement of said head and buck,

control means for effecting the aforesaid movements of said head, automatic garment steaming means mounted on said frame, and means for operating said steaming means when said head is in said rest position prior to pressing engagement, automatic garment vacuuming means mounted on said frame, and means for operating said vacuuming means when said head isV in .said rest position subsequent to pressing engagement.

` 23. A garment pressing machine comprising a frame, a buck mounted thereon, a head rockably mounted on said frame, means to manually move said head from a normally fullyl opened position t0' a preliminary-closed position adjacent to but not "in contactlwith said -buckvandV temporarilyk held thereat, control means for power-actuating said head into pressing engagement withsaid buck from said preliminary-closed position, and pivotal-ly mounted means operatively connected to said control means and when in one position of pivotal adjustment renders said control means inoperative and enables said head to be manually moved into and out of pressing engagement.

24. A garment pressing machine comprising al frame, a pair of -cooperating pressing elements, power means for actuating one of said elements intopressing engagement with the other'of saidv elements, control means-'operatively connected to said power means for varying the pressure of said engagement, second means operatively connected to one of lsaid elements for manually ef-Y frame', a stationary buck mounted-onsaidframe, a head rockably mounted on said frame for ini-v tial movement from a normal fully open position to a temporary rest position adjacent to but not in contact with said buck, power means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said head for effecting movement thereof from said restfposition into pressing engagement with said buck and return of said head to 'said rest position subsequent to saidpressing engagement, a control member pivotally mounted on said head and operatively connected to said power means to effect o-peration of the latter, a safety member, and means operatively connected to said control and safety members whereby said control member can be manipulated tov effect operation of said power means upon simultaneous manipulation of said safety member.

ROY M. SCHUETZ.

'ReferencesCited in the le of .this patent vUNITED STATES` PATENTS Number Name Date 1,368,684 Andree Feb. 15, 1921 1,426,120 Spencer et al Aug. 15, 1922 1,489,227 Benjamin et al Apr. 1, 1924 1,635,616 Haacke July 12, 1927 1,686,266 Cohen Oct. 2, 1928 1,851,467 Tanner .Mar. 29, 1932 1,887,953 Davis Nov. 15, 1932 1,947,191 Davis et al. Feb. 13, 1934 1,957,250 Davis May 1, 1934 l2,351,956 Graham June 20, 1944 

